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Who needs ink? Chocolate makes an impression

Connie Bradley and Anthony Urrato operate Castle Creations Chocolatiers, a Parrish-based home business that prints custom, edible images onto pieces of chocolate. They hope to capture corporate clients who could have their logo printed on chocolate for marketing or gift giving.

One of their successful jobs was contracting with a hotel to put the inn's logo on chocolate coins.

Another sale was to the family of a boy who loved dirt-bike riding. His family had a picture of the boy on his cycle printed on lollipops that were given out at the party.

How Bradley got into the business follows an entrepreneurial path many Americans have taken after the Great Recession.

After being laid off from her job in upstate New York, in the mid-2000s, Bradley "started looking online at what kinds of businesses would be a match for me."

That's when she came across chocolography, a technology patented by a Inwood, N.Y.-based business, that prints high-resolution photos, logos and text on milk or dark chocolate.

She pitched the idea of starting a business to Urrato. He was sold.

Bradley had previously worked at a printing shop, and created marketing materials at another job. She enjoyed graphic design and was knowledgeable about related computer programs.

All the couple had to do was buy the company's printer and other products and complete training.

"It was a hot day, and we were stuck in traffic that was not moving," said Urrato, recalling the day they picked up their starter kit. "I started to smell chocolate. All I could think is we need to get home quick before it all melts."

Bradley, 59, and Urrato, 63, relocated to Florida last year. The pair has been together for 23 years and engaged almost two.

"She's the creative side of the business," Urrato said. "I'm the salesman.

Bradley and Urrato are looking to get back in business — preferably by creating promotion materials for Southwest Florida companies.

"It's hard to find who to target because it can be used by anybody," Urrato said.

But they plan to push toward hotels, real estate companies, healthcare offices and car dealerships. One of Bradley's best-selling products is the "business card," where she prints a company logo and person's contact information on chocolate that can be handed out with an identical paper version.

<p><em>PARRISH</em> - Ink cartridges move back and forth across the printer carriage, leaving behind an image on a white surface.</p><p>But this is no regular printing job being completed in the makeshift business office of a Parrish home.</p><p>The cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink is actually FDA-approved food coloring. And the printing surface? Gourmet chocolate discs, glazed with white royal icing.</p><p>This is chocolography.</p><p>"Chocolate is our medium," said Connie Bradley, who, with fiance, Tony Urrato owns and operates Castle Creations Chocolatiers.</p><p>One of their successful jobs was contracting with a hotel to put the inn's logo on chocolate coins. </p><p>Another sale was to the family of a boy who loved dirt-bike riding. His family had a picture of the boy on his cycle printed on lollipops that were given out at the party.</p><p>How Bradley got into the business follows an entrepreneurial path many Americans have taken after the Great Recession.</p><p>After being laid off from her job in upstate New York, in the mid-2000s, Bradley "started looking online at what kinds of businesses would be a match for me."</p><p>That's when she came across chocolography, a technology patented by a Inwood, N.Y.-based business, that prints high-resolution photos, logos and text on milk or dark chocolate. </p><p>She pitched the idea of starting a business to Urrato. He was sold.</p><p>Bradley had previously worked at a printing shop, and created marketing materials at another job. She enjoyed graphic design and was knowledgeable about related computer programs.</p><p>All the couple had to do was buy the company's printer and other products and complete training.</p><p>"It was a hot day, and we were stuck in traffic that was not moving," said Urrato, recalling the day they picked up their starter kit. "I started to smell chocolate. All I could think is we need to get home quick before it all melts."</p><p>The couple participated in bridal shows, producing custom chocolates for wedding favors and jewelry stores.</p><p>Bradley, 59, and Urrato, 63, relocated to Florida last year. The pair has been together for 23 years and engaged almost two.</p><p>"She's the creative side of the business," Urrato said. "I'm the salesman.</p><p>Bradley and Urrato are looking to get back in business — preferably by creating promotion materials for Southwest Florida companies. </p><p>"It's hard to find who to target because it can be used by anybody," Urrato said.</p><p>But they plan to push toward hotels, real estate companies, healthcare offices and car dealerships. One of Bradley's best-selling products is the "business card," where she prints a company logo and person's contact information on chocolate that can be handed out with an identical paper version.</p><p>"It's a unique, fun thing," Bradley said. "Who doesn't like chocolate?"</p>